Peter the Great is the world-famous tsar of all Russia. Already at the age of 10, he began to rule on his own. But his brother remained formally watching the state. From a young age, Peter attracted interest in various sciences. He became the first king who made a long journey through the countries of Western Europe. After he returned, many large-scale reforms and changes awaited Russia.
It is worth noting that Peter the Great was always considered the most outstanding statesman who determined the direction of development of Russia. Is it so?
Here is a list of the 10 most interesting facts about Peter I: a brief biography from the life of the last Russian Tsar.
10. Rumors of illegitimate and substitution of the emperor in Europe
Very often there were rumors in the royal court that Peter was illegitimate. Surprisingly, all the children of Alexei, the boy’s father, were born very weak. They were constantly overcome by various diseases. But Peter himself was born a healthy child. It is because of this fact that such conversations began to arise.
In history, many believed that Peter I was an impostor who imprisoned the true king. This conclusion was reached by many contemporaries.
Once during a diplomatic mission, there were about 55 people with the king. Among them was Alexander Menshikov. Soon, everyone was killed under incomprehensible circumstances, and the king until the last did not want to see anyone. Among the surviving people, there was only one Alexander. After Peter the Great returned to Russia, many claimed that a completely different person had returned together with him.
Supporters also claimed that after the replacement of the emperor, a portrait was made, and he was very different from the previous one. Firstly, it spoke of his unexpectedly high growth and a sharp decline in weight. His face changed shape a lot. Secondly, in the portrait of the returning king, the man looked much older than his years.
9. Tried to change the position of women in Russian society
The change in the position of women in society occurred precisely during the reign of Peter the Great. The Tsar tried to break all wild traditions and customs and bring Russia to a new level. Under him, the century ended when the “prison confinement” of all women took place.
Peter for the first time laid the foundation for female education. Under him, the first female school at the monastery was opened.
8. The second wife of Peter I - commoner
The second wife of Peter the first was Catherine I. It was she who became the first empress by that name.
But many say that she was a commoner. Actually there are several versions. Her biography is very foggy.
According to one version - Catherine was born in a simple Swedish family. After her father died, her mother moved the girl to Riga, where she soon retired (died). Catherine was sent to an orphanage, where the pastor took her to raise.
According to another version, the real name of Catherine is Marta. Orphaned early, she first went to an orphanage, and then Pastor Gluck took her to her. But in both situations, the girl did not have high bloodshed.
We can say that she came out of ordinary people. That is why many people say that the king married a simple orphan girl.
7. Introduced universal military service
Initially, before the reign of Peter, the Russian soldier served indefinitely. But the Russian army also had a completely different principle of formation. Then everything changed.
Peter first introduced a recruiting set. In fact, only peasants and philistines were afraid of him. All men who had good health from 20 years to 35 were taken to military service.
But it is worth saying that under Peter I such people no longer returned back, since the ministry was life-long. The recruitment service was introduced already in 1699.
6. Tried to master many professions
He was the most unique emperor, never afraid of dirty work. All the time I wanted to know something new. For this I studied many professions.
Initially, he knew how to wield a plane, an ax, and also a hammer. I could use this kit since childhood.
Then he began to study turning, carpentry. He was a carpenter and a blacksmith. He studied printing, shipping and shipbuilding, drawing. He was interested in cartography and many others.
5. Divided the peasants into 3 categories
In the era of Peter the Great, all peasants were divided into several categories. There were black-peasant peasants who lived on their lands, monastic peasants who were removed from the management of monasteries. As well as palace peasants, and those that were assigned to certain factories.
It is worth noting that under the king, all the previous ranks of the nobles were destroyed. Instead, a “ladder” of official ranks appeared. The rank was attributed to a man only after he deserved it with some important deeds.
4. Actively struggled with drunkenness
As many know, Peter the Great actively fought drunkenness. In 1714, he issued such a decree, where every person who was fond of alcohol, had to wear a special "medal". But at the very beginning it did not bring any success. Then the king decided to make the medal even harder. It began to be made of cast iron.
Soon the product began to weigh about 7 kg. They wore it so well that it was impossible to take it off yourself. Such an award was presented to the laughter of all those present. After rewarding a person, they beat them with roses. A cast-iron medal had to be worn for about a week. But the interesting thing is that the second time no one else received it.
3. Founded the Kunstkamera
Currently, the Kunstkamera is a museum that was founded back in 1714. There are no more such people in the world. It is located in a purpose-built building.
When Peter I went to Europe, he learned a lot from there. After his return, he decided to create an office with unusual rarities. Entrance to the museum was free for everyone.
After creating, The Kunstkamera became a center in Russia, where knowledge about the whole world was collected. Here was a library, museum, academy of sciences and even an observatory.
2. Forcibly introduced many reforms
In the country during the reign of Peter I, many reforms were introduced by force. This related more to internal state activity, which can be divided into 2 stages.
In the first stage, the reforms were aimed at raising funds for the Northern War. But very often this did not lead to any positive result. The matter concerned changes in the cultural stock of people's lives. A monetary reform was also carried out.
In the second stage, the reforms were associated more with the internal arrangement of the state. But by the end of Peter's reign, the most powerful Russian empire was created.
1. Was the last Russian tsar and the first Russian emperor
Peter I was the last tsar and the first Russian emperor. The victory in the Northern War was of tremendous political significance for our Russia.
The king was very keen on various ideas for the common good. He wanted to turn the Russian Empire into a regular state. It is for this that many social structures of society have been simplified.
It can be said that many historians and contemporaries have different opinions on the nature of the rule of the king. For example, Nikolai Karamzin strongly criticized the emperor for the fact that, as a result of his transformations, Russia turned off the natural path, along which it had to actively develop.
But Sergei Solovyov, on the contrary, very positively assesses all the reforms that Peter the Great introduced in Russia.